Residents of Eastside cities contributed more than 77,000 pounds of food for the "Share What You Can" food drive that ran from Sept. 26 to Oct. 24. Mayors of Bellevue, Kirkland, Issaquah, Mercer Island, Newcastle, Redmond and Sammamish asked citizens to participate in the "Month of Concern for the Hungry."

The aim of the drive was to stock food bank shelves with non-perishable food items before the holidays. Local food banks that benefited included Hopelink, the Emergency Feeding Program, ARAS Foundation, the Issaquah Food Bank, the Mercer Island Food Pantry and the Renewal Food program.

Neighborhood associations, community leaders, faith organizations, businesses, hospitals and schools organized local efforts by hosting food drives and fundraising events in their city. Cash donations totaled almost $10,000, including a $5,000 contribution from Walmart.

"The recent economic collapse and lingering recession have created a real crisis in our community," said Brian Anderson, operations director of the Emergency Feeding Program. "But we are finding that we live in a community that truly cares and wants to help its residents hold on until the economy gets better."